Garland



May 9, 1967 F. D. GARDNER 3,318,755

GARLAND Filed Aug. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR d/t/K 6456/166 United States Patent O 3,318,755 GARLAND Frank D. Gardner, 64-B Tong Mi Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,706 3 Claims. (Cl. ll- 25) In general, the present invention relates to decorative articles. More particularly, it relates to artificial garlan-ds, especially garlands of plant structures, such Ias parsley and fern.

The recent development in the decorative arts has been the creation yof decorative articles utilizing plastic constituents, such as artificial plant structures. As used in the present disclosure, the phrase plant structures is delined as referring to, but not limited to, flowers, leaves, buds, stems, branches, or any other component parts of plant life. A wide variety of artificial plant structures, such as artificial iiowers and plants, have heretofore been developed mainly as individual units and arranged in bunches or sprays generally similar to the usual corresponding live or real counterparts. In addition, numerous other structures, su-ch as ornaments, geometric forms, and so forth, have been developed to supplement or set ofi such floral arrangements and, i-n some cases, such arrangements may be formed entirely of such structures which have no real counterparts among plant structures.

One iiora-l display that is well known and widely used is that of individual parsley sprigs which are generally used on dinner plates in association with the food or articles which are being served thereon. Also, clusters or a plurality of sprigs of parsley are commonly used in the stores `selling fruit, vegetables, meat and the like and placed on or adjacent to portions of these items. In connection with the sale of such articles, a need has been felt for a more suitable and practical type of spray or garland simulating parsley or a comparable plant for use in connection with the display of food articles. Similarly, in the formation of wreaths of owers and ferns a 4more flexible, easily-assembled, artificial fern structure is necessary to 'accommodate the curvature of the wreath while `retaining struc-tural strength. Therefore, one object of the present invention is a novel garland utilizing components, such as sprigs of artificial parsley or articial ferns.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel improvements in the manufacture of garlands.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a unique artificial garland utilizing simulated parsley or simulated ferns.

Still another object of the present invention is an improved, artiiicial garland structure utilizing connectingV means integrally formed therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is an artificial plant structure, such as parsley or ferns, which can be arranged in variable patterns so aslto substantially change the resulting appearance of garlands made therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as well as an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

In general, the present invention involves an artificial garland formed from a plurality of sprigs and adapted to be simply extended either by the addition of more spri-gs, without requiring tools, or by rearrangement of the sprigs. a main stem with structures extending therefrom and a tongue extending from the end of the main stem. The tongue has a first connecting means integrally formed The garland comprises a sprig including therein in lan intermediate por-tion for attaching the sprig to another sprig. The tongue also has a second connecting means integrally formed therein in the free end portion for attaching the sprig to another sprig.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings of a preferred specific embodiment of this invention. Such drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention which is properly set. forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective View of a parsley sprig made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of a portion of a garland formed Iout of sprigs made as shown in FIG. 1 with each unit of the garland chain formed out of two parsley sprigs in mating relationship;

FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 2 except that the two sprigs in the chain unit are set in opposing relationship;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an artificial parsley sprig of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a portion of -a garland formed out of sprigs made as shown in FIG. 1 wherein each unit of the garland chain is formed out of one parsley sprig;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of a fern sprig made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two tongue portions of fern sprigs constructed as shown in FIG. 6 showing one step of the method of attaching them together;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 showing the completion of the step illustrated 'm FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective View of a portion of a garland formed out of sprigs made as s-hown in FIG. 6 with each unit of the garland chain formed out of two fern sprigs in mating relationship; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a garland formed out of sprigs m-ade as shown in FIG. 6 with each uni-t of the garland chain formed out of one fern sprig. i

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the garland of the present invention comprises a sprig 10 including a main stem 11 with plant structure 12 extending therefrom. The main stem 11 has a somewhat arcuate cross-section which is formed with a longitudinally extending groove 13 to stimulate as closely as possible the main stem of a natural parsley sprig as well as to increase the structural strength of the main stem 11. In addition, the main stem 11 has a longitudinal curve 14 adjacent the base end 15 of the main stem 11. The plant structures 12 consists simply of the side stems 16 and leaf stems 17 with parsley leaves 18 mounted on the ends of the leaf stems 17.

Extending from the base end 15 of the main stem 11 is a tongue 2() having a first connecting means 25 integrally formed therein in an intermediate portion 21 of the tongue 20 for attaching the sprig 10 to another sprig. Also, the tongue 20 has a second connecting means 30 integrally formed therein in its free end portion 22 for attaching the sprig 10 to another sprig. The first connecting means 25 comprises an opposing pair of ears 26 extending from the sides of the tongue 20 and a pair of notches 27 adjacent the ears 26 and extending into opposite sides of the tongue 20. Notches 27 are separated from the main stem 11 by the ears 26. The notches 27 have a convex curve on the sides adjoining the free end portion 22 and thus are adapted to receive the bulges 31 of another sprig while the ears 26 are adapted to retain the bulges 31 in the notches 27. The iirstconnecting means 25 also includes a hole 28 in the tongue 20 adjacent ears 26 which is adapted to receive the tail 33 of another sprig.

The second connecting means 30 comprises an opposing pair of bulges 31 extending from the sides of the tongue 20 with an aperture 32 in the tongue located therebetween. The aperture 32 is adapted to receive the tongue 20 of another sprig 10 while the bulges 31 are adapted to be received in the notches 27 of another sprig and retained 4by the corresponding ears 26 of such other sprig. The second connecting means 30 also includes a tail 33 extending from the free end 22 of the tongue 20. The tail 33 includes a locking means 34 for retaining the tail 33 in the hole 28 of another sprig when inserted therein. The locking means 34 comprises a plurality of spaced ridges 35 extending perpendicular to the length of the tail 33 along the tail 33. The ridges 35 are formed of the same fiexible material as the sprig and are bent and compressed when the tail 33 is inserted in the hole 28 of another sprig. The ridges 35 then resume their initial position inhibit the removal of the tail 33 from the hole 28. Finally, a -bore 40 is formed in the tongue and adapted tov connect the sprig 10` to any support means, such as hanging it on a nail.

The sprigs 10 are formed from a suitable plastic material having the desired coloring matter added thereto. Normally, a green coloring matter is used toy correspond to the usual shade of green parsley. However, other colors, such as red, yellow and blue, may be utilized to give la more decorative effect. The garland may then be formed by placing together two or more sprigs 10` to form a unit in the garland chain with one sprig above the other with their ends 22 coinciding in contiguous overlying relationship (FIGS. 2 and 3). Then a second unit is formed from a pair of sprigs 10 in a similar fashion. The second unit is then connected to the first unit by inserting the tongues 20` of the second unit through the apertures 32 of the first unit until the bulges 31 of the first unit are received in the notches 27 and retained by the ears 26 of the second unit. Next, the tails 33 of the first unit are inserted in the holes 28 of the second unit. After such manipulation, which may be done manually, the first and second units are securely fastened together and the second unit is available to have a third unit connected thereto. By repeating such operation, the garland may be formed to any length without requiring tools -or external fastening means. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the two sprigs of the unit may be placed in mating relationship so that the curve 14 of one sprig is received in the curve 14 of the other sprig. When all of the units are formed in this fashion, the resulting garland presents a .relatively flat, uniform configuration which facilitates its use in long narrow spaces. VOn the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the curve 14 of one sprig may be placed in opposing relationship to the curve 14 of another sprig. When the units are formed in this fashion the resulting configuration presents a much 'bushier appearance and gives a springier structure so that the garland may be used to occupy a larger space when it is so desired. Thus, by the proper arrangement of the sprigs in the individual unit, the over-all appearance of the garland may be changed substantially to achieve the desired result. Of course, alternate units may have different arrangements so that -a variety of configurations may be used along the length of the garland. In addition, three or more sprigs may be used in an individual unit and the individual sprigs may be placed all in mating relationship or all in opposing relationship or some combination thereof to give the desired resulting effect.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sprig 100 is substantially similar to the sprig 10, except that the hole 128 is formed between the ears 126 instead of merely adjacent thereto. Also, the tail 133 has a smooth surface. A garland formed out of the sprigs 100 is illustrated in FIG. 5 utilizing single sprig units. With such arrangement, a much longer garland can be obtained which is adapted to fit into a narrower space. Of course, the

garland illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 may similarly be lengthened by changing the chain units to one-sprig units and using the second sprigs of the unit to lengthen the garland.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6-10, another embodiment of the present invention involves a sprig 210 having a main stern 211 with plant structures 212 extending therefrom. The main stem 211 has an arcuate lateral cross section which is formed with a longitudinally extending groove 213 to increase the structural strength of the main stem 211. In addition, the main stem 211 has a longitudinal curve 214 adjacent the base end 215 of the main stem 211. The plant structures 212 consist of the side stems 216 and leaf stems 217 with fern leaves 218 mounted on the ends of the leaf stems 217.

Extending from the base end 215 of the main stem 211 is a tongue 220 having a first connecting means 225 integrally formed therein in an intermediate portion 221 of the tongue 220 for attaching the sprig 210 to another sprig. Also, the tongue 220` has a second connecting means 230 integrally formed in its free end 224 for attaching the sprig 210 to another sprig. The rst connecting means 225 comprises a pair of notches 226 extending into the opposite sides f the tongue 220. The side 227 of the notch 226 adjoining the main stern 213 is substantially perpendicular to the side of the tongue 220 While the side 228 of the notch 226 adjoining the free end portion 222 of the tongue 220y is a convex curve. The notch sides 227 and 228 of the notches 226 are adapted to facilitate the attachment of the sprig 210 to another sprig and to maintain such attachment.

The second connecting means 230 comprises a first slot 231 extending substantially perpendicular to the length of the tongue 220 and whose length is substantially less than the width of the tongue 220. Preferably, the length of the first slot 231 is about half the width of the tongue 220. Connected to the first slot 231 is a second slot 232 which is positioned at a substantial angle to the first slot 231. Preferably, the second slot 232 extends substantially perpendicular to the first slot 231. The second slot 232 has a length substantially equal to the width of the tongue 220 to facilitate the insertion of the tongue 220 of another fern sprig. The method of attaching two fern sprigs 210 together is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and S. As shown therein, the first tongue 220 is aligned with the second slot 232 of the second tongue 220 and then inserted therein until the notches 226 of the first tongue 220 adjoin the sides of the slot 232. The first tongue 220 is then rotated so that it is aligned with the first slot 231 of the second tongue 220 and thus the sides of the first slot 231 of the second tongue 220 are forced into the notches 226 of the first tongue 220. Since both tongues 220 are formed out of flexible plastic material, the sides of the first and second slots 231 and 232 are deformed initially to permit the rotation of the first tongue 220 in the second slot 232 of the second tongue and then resume their normal position as the sides of the first tongue 220 engage the sides of the first slot 231 of the second tongue 220.

Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. See, for example, the alternate embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-10. Also, as noted above, other structures in addition to simply leaves may be aixed to the main stem, including other plant structures, as well as ornaments or geometrical shapes and so forth. In addition, a variety of locking means may be utilized to retain the tail 25 of one sprig in the hole 28 of another sprig, such as side enlargement of the tail rather than spaced ridges. In addition, only a single ear, notch or bulge may he used in forming the connecting means. Also, the slots may be at any angle to the length of the tongue as well as to each other, depending upon the resulting configuration desired.

There are many features of the present invention which clearly show the signiiicant advancement it represents over the prior art. Consequently, only a few of the more outstanding features will be pointed out to illustrate the unexpected and unusual results obtained by the present invention. The garland made in accordance with the present invention is adapted for display on a store counter in connection with the sale of food proclucts or, if desired, may be hung up, draped over or on any article or object. In addition, the garland of the present invention may be manually assembled without requiring tools or external fastening means and may be simply lengthened or shortened merely by adding or taking away units.

Still another feature of the present invention is the use of sprigs which have the connecting means integrally formed therewith and thus which can be formed at the same time the sprig itself is molded, for example, from a plastic material.

Still another feature of the present invention is the variation in the appearance of the garland which can be achieved simply by rearranging the individual sprigs in any unit of the garland chain. Thus, if a bushier appearance is desired, the curves of the sprig may be set in opposing relationship. On the other hand, if a smoother, more uniform appearance is desired, the curves of the individual sprigs may be set in mating relationship. In addition, the over-all density of the sprigs may be varied depending on whether one, two or more sprigs are utilized in an individual unit in a chain forming the garland.

It will |be understood that the foregoing description and examples are only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the presentinvention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations and modifications of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims or to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure are considered part of the present invention,

I claim:

1. An articial garland formed from a plurality of flexible sprigs and adapted to be simply extended either by the addition of more sprigs without requiring tools or external fastening means comprising: a sprig including a main stem with plant structures extending therefrom, and a tongue extending from the end of the main stem, said tongue having a first connecting means integrally formed therein in an intermediate portion of the tongue spaced from the end thereof for attaching said sprig to another sprig, and a second connecting means integrally formed therein in the free end portion of the tongue for attaching the first sprig to another sprig, at least one of said connecting means comprising a portion of the tongue having an opening therein for receiving therethrough a portion of the tongue of another sprig for securing the sprigs together, to provide a garland with end portions of sprigs attached to intermediate portions of adjacent sprigs.

2. A garland as in claim 1 wherein `both the iirst and second connecting means include portions of a tongue having an opening therein, the connection between tongues comprising portions of each tongue inserted through an opening in the other tongue.

3. A garland as in claim 1 wherein the opening in one of said` tongues is in the form of a T-shaped slot having a part extending parallel to the tongue and adapted to have another tongue inserted therethrough.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,110,647 11/1963 Tong 161-31 3,130,109 4/1964 Harvey et al. 161-25 JACOB H, STEINBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ARTIFICIAL GARLAND FORMED FORM A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE SPRIGS AND ADAPTED TO BE SIMPLY EXTENDED EITHER BY THE ADDITION OF MORE SPRINGS WITHOUT REQUIRING TOOLS OR EXTERNAL FASTENING MEANS COMPRISING: A SPRIG INCLUDING A MAIN STEM WITH PLANT STRUCTURES EXTENDING THEREFROM, AND A TONGUE EXTENDING FROM THE END OF THE MAIN STEM, SAID TONGUE HAVING A FIRST CONNECTING MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREIN IN AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE TONGUE SPACED FROM THE END THEREOF FOR ATTACHING SAID SPRIG TO ANOTHER SPRIG, AND A SECOND CONNECTING MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREIN IN AN INTERMEDIATE POLRTION OF THE TONGUE ATTACHING THE FIRST SPRIG TO ANOTHER SPRIG, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING A PORTION OF THE TONGUE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR RECEIVING THERETHROUGH A PORTION OF THE TONGUE OF ANOTHER SPRIG FOR SECURING THE SPRIGS TOGETHER, TO PROVIDE A GARLAND WITH END PORTIONS OF SPRINGS ATTACHED TO INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS OF ADJACENT SPRIGS. 